British Citizenship Application

Hello all!
I'm planning to apply now for my British Citizenship (currently holding ILR for more than a year).
SORRY if this information is already somewhere, I've searched it on this panel, and couldn't find it on the main thread/sticky-thread!

Simple Questions:

1. Does a referee need to hold a British citizenship? I was the referee of my friend three years ago, and I don't hold a citizenship, but on the UKVI website it seems to say one must hold a UK citizenship! Was it changed recently?

2. Can I travel abroad while my application is in process? (I will travel with my other passport. But I should also have my BRP, so can I keep it?)

3. Where's the thread about processing times for applications?

Thanks!

1. You need TWO referees. One must be British and over 25. The other must be a professional of any nationality.

2. Yes, free to travel. No originals are submitted any more.

3. british-citizenship/naturalisation-appl ... l#p2079714